Closure-applying mechanism.



Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

5 3 M2% v 0 w 3 Z 5 I M" 11 N y; u 2 2 /AAQ, Q 1 m 2 E 7 2 a 7 0o u W 5 W I! 1 3 0 5 W H 7 WW M a w w 2 5 M. W F U Y I Be i known that I, NORBERT a citizen of the United States, residing at UNITED STATES PATE T 015 woman in; LA roars, or Burmese, MARYLAND, ns'srenoa TO. THE cnowu coax AND SEAL COMPANY or BALTIMORE CITY, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, a Conro- RATION or MAR LAN CLOSUBEAPPLYIN'G MECHANISM.

' PatentedDecfl, 191a.

App1icat' ion filed February 26,1912. Serial No. 679,810.

To all whom it may concern: I

M. LA Pon'r'n,

Baltimore, State of- Maryland, have in. vented certain new and useful Improvements in Closure-Applying "Mechanism, fully described and'represented in the folapplying metal closures, such as the wellown crown corks, to fragile receptacles, such as bottles. Bottles and similar receptacles made of vitreous material to which plied, although of the same capacity and designed to be ofthe same length, vary con- 'siderably in length. The machines by which such closures are applied are usually operated by mechanism, however, which is designed to produce movements ofthe same i extent for each capping operation. Because of the varying height or length of there- December 5, 1899. In this mechanism each bottle is carried by what may be termed a holder which is to be moved up to force the bottle into proper-relation with the cap- .ping head, this head operating to apply the closure. The movement of the holder is controlled by a release mechanism which operates to prevent further upward movement of the holder ,when a v struction. 7

speed, andwhich embodies means for of pressurehad been rought to bear upon the bottle. While said mechanism is eificient in operation it is expensive in con- The present invention has for its object to produce an improved mechanism for applying metal closures to bottles or similar receptacles which is simple in construction, which operatesefliciently at a high rate of venting breakage dueto the variation in height of the receptacles.

With this and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention consist in certain constructions, and in certain parts, improvements and combinations 'as elude a plurality of such holders.

predetermined degree.

will be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out. Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of so much of a closure applying-mechanism embodymg the invention as is necessary to an understanding thereof, and Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing a modified construction embodying the invention.

Machines constructed in accordance with the invention will be'provided with closure applyin means, the particular construction of whic may be varied. In themachine illustrated, such closure applying means is generally indicated at 10 andcompris'es a plurality of cap applying dies carried in a frame 20 which is supported by a sleeve .21, this sleeve surrounding a vertical post 12. The particular construction of closure applying mechanism referred to is fully shown and described in patent to Painter, No. 628,354, Dec. 5, 1899, hereinbefore referred to, and therefore further specific description .of such means is unnecessary', as reference to that patent may be had for the same.

Constructions embodying the invention will' also include a receptacle holder, and

constructions which embody the invention in what is regarded as the best form will in- While the construction of these holders may be varied, as illustrated th y comprise cylinders 13 provided 'withthe usual centering flanges indicated at 23. The means for supporting and'operating the holders maybe varied and will be var1ed in accordance with the particular construction of holder employed. As illustrated, there is provided a carrier or turret 11 which rotates about the vertical standard 12, the holders 13 be ing located in sockets 14 formed in the turret. The sockets and holders are so located as to be in vertical alinement with the closure applying devices, each holder 13 having associated therewith an individual closure applying device. The sleeve 21 is bolted to the turret at 22, so that the closure applying devices rotate with the turret and holders. The turret may be rotated from a power shaft 15 carrying at its inner end a bevel gear 16 meshing with a toothed ring 17 the ring being attached to a flange 18 which is carried on a sleeve 19 formingv apart of the turret construction.

Constructions embodying the -invention will include an actuator for causing a relativemovement between the closure applying devices and the holders during the closure applying operations. While the particular construction and arrangement of this actuator may be varied and will vary according to the character of the movement which is to. beproduced, in the particular construction illustrated, the-actuator, comprises a cam 29 which provides a circular track around which the holders are carried by the movement of the'turret, the holders being provided with anti-friction wheels 30. With this construction, as the turret rotates, the holders will be given. a rising and falling movement, each holder as it runs up on the high part of the cam being carried upward toward the closure applying device with which itcooperates. During the operation of the mechanism, therefore, each bottle or other receptacle carried by a holder will be moved into operative relation with the 010- sure applying device cooperating with that holder.

' Constructions embodying the invention will further include a controller which operates upon the actuator and which determines the amount of pressure to which any receptacle may be subjected during the capping operation, so that breakage, due to variation in height of the receptacles, may

be avoided; The construction of this con-- troller may vary and will vary in accordance with the particular form of actuator employed, two constructions of controller being shown.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the cam 29 before referred to is pivoted at 35 to an car on the frame, and there is provided a lever 32 pivoted to the frame at 33, the lever being provided with an upward projection as 34 which bears on the under side of the cam underneath the high point thereof. The lever is provided with a weight, as 31, which may be made adjustable along the lever by a set screw 31 to determine the amount of upward pressure on the cam produced by the weight. It is obvious that with this construction-the upward thrust and consequent movement of each of the holders 13 will be limited by the action of the weight, so that only a predetermined amount of pressure, viz., that produced by the weight in a given position, can be applied toany receptacle. The construction will be so proportioned that the cam will produce an upward movement of each holder and a*-'consequent pre-- determined pressure by the closure applying device suflicient to cause a closure to be applied to the shortest receptacle without disturbing the weight. If, however, a longer receptacle is present on any holder, when an upward movement of the receptacle has been produced which is sufficient to cause the predetermined pressure to be exerted on the closure which is being applied to the receptacle, the inner end of the lever 32 will be depressed and breakage of the receptacle prevented. A limiting stop, as 27, may be employed to. positively determine the extent of upward'movement of eachof the ,cylinders 13, and the cylinders may be turned off tov provide shoulders 25 which cooperate with the shoulders 26 on the sockets 14, thus determining the amount of downwardmovement of the holders.

In the construction illustrated '2,

the controller comprises a plunger 36 lovided with a piston, as 41, gas or air under 7 pressure being introduced into the reservoir above the piston by means of apipe 42 controlled by a cook 43. Pressure produced on the piston 36 by the cam 29 will tend to; cause the .fluid in the cylinder 37 to' be forced through the pipe 40 into'the reservoir 39, and when this pressure 'is suflicient to overcome the pressure of the gas or air on the piston 41, the piston 36 will be depressed, thus preventing the cam-from producing a further upward movement of any holder 13; A controller cock, as 44, may be employed in connection with the pipe 40. The frame of the machine may be provided with a table as 28 inwhich the turret ro-- tates.

Changes and variations may be made in the constructions by which the invention claimed is carried intoeflect. The invention claimed, therefore, is not'to be confined to the particular constructions herein described and illustrated in ings.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine for applying metal closures to fragile receptacles, and in combination, a plurality of holders, a plurality of closure applying devices corresponding in number with the holders, an actuator adapted to produce a relative movement between each holder and its corresponding closure applying device, and a controller operating upon the actuator whereby the amount of relatii e movement ,andthe consequent pressure on the receptacle is determined.

2. In a machine for applying metal closures to fragile receptacles, and in combination, a plurality of holders, a plurality of the accompanying drawrier, an actuator for efii'ecting a relative closure applying devices corresponding in number with the holders, an actuator adapted to successively move each holder toward sures to fragile receptacles, and in combinatio11 a rotating carrier, a plurality ofholders mounted therein, a plurality of closure applying devices corresponding in number with the holders and rotating with the carmovement between each'holder and its cooperating closure applying device, and a controller operating upon the actuator whereby the amount of relative movement and the consequent pressure on thereceptacle is determined.

4. In amachine for applying'metal closures to fragile receptacles, and in combination, a rotating carrier, a plurality of holders mounted therein, a plurality of closure with theholders and rotating with the carrier, amovable actuator for causing each holder in succession to approach and recede from its cooperating applying device, and a controller governing the actuator and each holder, and thus determining the amount of pressure exerted inthe closure applying operation. v

5. In a machine for applying metal closures to fragile receptacles, and in combination, a rotating carrier, a plurality'of holders mounted therein, a plurality of closure applying devices corresponding in number with the holders and rotating with the carrier, a movable actuator cam for causlng the holders in succession to approach and recede from their cooperating closure applying devices, and a controller operating 011 the cam for governing the amount of movement of the actuator cam and the holders and thus determining the amount of pressure exerted in the closure applying operation.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NORBERT M. LA FORTE.

I Witnesses: applying devices corresponding in number H. M. LAITHE, HoWAnD S. Gnu/ms.- 

